Chapter 83

"What is this?"

Glen tilted his chin to lift up Rimer, who was lying prone in an awkward position.

"The balance between your body and spirit has become even more skewed. What have you been up to now?"

"It wasn't something I did."

"Hmph."

As Glen frowned and narrowed his eyes, his aura split like threads of wool and penetrated Rimer's body.

Hum.

The pain in the mana circuits and dantian, which had been caused by the aftereffects of opening the Sword Realm, began to subside.

"Huh…"

Rimer let out a hollow laugh.

'Has he become even stronger?'

To correct the imbalance in his body just by manipulating aura—Glen must have reached the demigod realm.

'No, he was probably this strong from the beginning.'

Glen had never revealed his true strength in the past ten years. It wasn't that he had become stronger, but rather that he was now showing a bit more of his true power.

Hum.

Glen's aura, which had been soothing his muscles, bones, and organs, dissipated like smoke. His body condition had significantly improved.

"Thank you."

Rimer stopped fidgeting and bowed deeply.

"Alright. I don't want to see a weakling like you trembling like that."

"Hehe, I guess I'll have to rely on you more in the future."

"Quiet, and tell me why you came."

"Ah, right."

He lifted his head and smiled.

"I have news about the grandchildren the head of the family has been eagerly awaiting."

"……"

Glen looked down at Rimer with a cold, expressionless gaze.

"You look like you're telling me to hurry up and speak."

Rimer chuckled and stood up.

"Actually, something quite interesting happened during the mission."

"Interesting?"

"Yes. There was an Eden in Sebu Village."

"What do you mean by that?"

Even to Glen, who had reached the demigod realm, this news was surprising. His eyes widened.

"Since the branch office didn't know about it, it seems they arrived after the investigation."

"Just get to the point. Quickly."

"Understood. I'll start from the beginning. When I first arrived, I found a Red-Eyed Ghoul. After some deliberation, I decided to trust the children. So…."

Rimer nodded and began recounting the events that took place in Sebu.

"…When I arrived, Raon didn't back down from the Bloodthirsty Ghoul, even though his body was in a terrible state."

Rimer's emerald eyes shone brightly.

"Bloodthirsty Ghoul? Do you really think that makes sense…."

"It doesn't. A 15-year-old trainee who hasn't even earned the title of swordsman, slicing through a Green-Blooded Ghoul and surviving a punch from a Bloodthirsty Ghoul? It's a story that would get you cursed no matter who you tell. But!"

He raised a long finger.

"It's the truth. I saw it, the trainees saw it, and the villagers saw it. And if the head of the family sees Raon, he'll know. The boy has already reached the lower rank of Sword Expert."

"He survived, but is his body alright?"

Concern and doubt flickered in Glen's eyes, now those of a Transcender.

"To worry about his body after hearing such an incredible story, you really are his kin."

"Quiet, just speak."

"His left arm bone was broken, and his muscles were torn. He was hit by the first strike while trying to save the village chief."

"Hmm…."

Glen's lips twisted slightly at this news.

"I haven't seen that expression in a long time. You seem proud of your grandson, yet worried."

"His current condition?"

"I gave him Elbryn's sap. He'll return stronger."

"That's…."

Glen narrowed his eyes. Elbryn was the name of the second World Tree. Its sap was a priceless treasure, nearly impossible to obtain even for a fortune.

"His injuries were too severe. If we hadn't acted quickly, he wouldn't have fully recovered. Besides, what can I say? It didn't feel wasteful at all."

Rimer shrugged.

"Where are the trainees now?"

"They'll arrive at the family estate the day after tomorrow."

"I'll convene a family meeting as soon as they return. Summon the elders."

"Understood."

As Glen closed his eyes and gave the order, Roen, who had been standing in shock, stepped forward.

'Raon. I can really tear into him now.'

Rimer grinned, looking at Glen's expression.

"Rimer."

"Ah, yes?"

Just when he thought it was over, Glen's voice suddenly cut in.

"Why did you go there instead of sending another instructor?"

"Just because. I wanted to see the children grow."

"Is that so…."

Glen scratched his chin and continued.

"Well done. And good job."

"Ooh, how long has it been since I heard praise? Almost 20 years…."

"If you hadn't wasted your time, you would have heard it more often."

"Hahaha! That's true."

Rimer burst into a hearty laugh. He couldn't remember the last time he had genuinely laughed in front of the head of the family, or when the head of the family had shown a smile.

Thanks to Raon, the family, which had been stagnant, seemed to be moving again.

* * * *

It took a full month for Raon and the trainees to reach the front gate of Zighart.

Boom!

With a thunderous sound that seemed to shake the earth, the silver gates, which looked like they wouldn't budge, swung open.

Behind them stood the gatekeepers and the guards, who were protecting the walls and the gate.

They looked the same as when the trainees had left on their mission.

But there was a difference.

The gatekeepers, who had previously been as solid as statues, now had surprise and curiosity in their eyes.

"Welcome back."

The captain of the guards' voice had changed. It was as if he was addressing a returning swordsman who had completed a mission, not a group of young trainees.

"Thank you."

Raon bowed to the gatekeepers and narrowed his eyes.

'Rimer must have spread the word.'

It was obvious. The branch office people were still in Sebu Village, so Rimer must have spread the news.

"You might want to rest, but there's somewhere you need to go first. All of you, go to the head of the family's hall. He is waiting for you."

"Huh?"

"The head of the family's hall?"

"The head of the family?"

At the news that the head of the family had summoned them, the trainees' eyes widened.

"Let's go."

The captain of the guards pointed in the direction of the head of the family's hall and ordered the gates to be closed.

"Let's go."

Raon, who had already expected this, nodded and led the trainees to the head of the family's hall.

As they walked through the main road of the family estate, everyone they met stopped and stared at them blankly.

Thanks to his improved senses, he could even hear their whispers.

"Is that him? Raon Zighart."

"Is it true he caught a Green-Blooded Ghoul, even though he's so small?"

"That's nothing. He withstood an attack from a Bloodthirsty Ghoul, right?"

"But he doesn't seem to have much presence. Is he really an Expert? He looks more like an Advanced User."

"Maybe Rimer is just spreading rumors again?"

"Rimer is lazy, but he's not corrupt enough to spread false rumors."

They were discussing the rumors Rimer had spread, debating whether they were true or false.

"Ha."

Raon sighed and entered the head of the family's hall.

"Welcome back from your mission."

Roan, Glen's butler, bowed. The servants followed suit, bowing their heads.

'Sure enough…'

The reactions here were different, perhaps because this was where the real people were.

"Please come this way. Everyone is waiting for you."

"Everyone…?"

"Not just the head of the family, but the elders as well."

"Hmm…."

"The, the elders?"

"Goodness…."

At the thin gasp, Raon turned around to see the trainees, all tense, licking their dry lips.

"There's no need to be nervous. Just tell them what happened."

"That's right. You only need to report what you saw and experienced during the mission."

Roan smiled and nodded.

'Surely different.'

Standing next to Glen, he had seen countless talents, but Raon was the first of his kind.

It wasn't that he didn't understand the importance of this place. He knew everything and still remained so composed, showing a mindset that was far from ordinary.

"Please come this way."

Roan bowed and led the way down the wide corridor.

"Let's go."

Raon followed Roan closely, heading to the audience hall. The doors to the audience hall were open, and a terrifying aura was emanating from inside.

"Phew."

He exhaled and entered. Unlike the selection ceremony, there was only one throne on the dais, and below it, a line of unfamiliar swordsmen stood.

'Those are the heads and elders of Zighart.'

The auras of the people in line made his spine tingle. Their presence and energy were far from that of ordinary humans.

'And…'

Now that he had reached the Expert level, he could feel it even more clearly. Glen Zighart. His aura was so vast that it was hard to perceive. It seemed to extend beyond the audience hall, covering the entire Zighart territory.

'Scary.'

Even among the gathered strong individuals, he stood in a different dimension.

"I see the head of the family!"

Raon stopped in the center of the audience hall, knelt, and bowed.

"I see the head of the family!"

The trainees followed his lead, bowing their heads in the same manner.

"Rise."

Everyone felt the weight of Glen's deep voice in their chests as they lifted their heads.

"Raon Zighart."

"Yes."

"I heard you were at the center of the Sebu Village incident. Tell me the details."

"Understood."

Raon straightened up and composed his thoughts.

"When we arrived in Sebu Village, I sensed someone was watching us. At first, I thought it was one of the instructors, but it wasn't. To gather accurate information…."

He made eye contact with everyone, from the head of the elders to the elders, including Rimer, who was annoyingly yawning, and finally Glen.

"I was about to die from exhaustion after blocking the Bloodthirsty Ghoul when Instructor Rimer arrived and saved me."

"……"

A heavy silence, like a block of metal, settled over the entire audience hall as they listened to Raon's story.

"Head of the family."

Balen's father and Glen's second son, Carun Zighart, raised his chin and frowned.

"Do you really think that makes sense? They're just 15 to 16-year-olds. They would be massacred by a Green-Blooded Ghoul, let alone a Bloodthirsty Ghoul! It's clearly a lie!"

"But brother, the branch office also reported. There were signs of Eden's presence."

Dener Zighart, Glen's third son and Marta's father, stepped in. He had always supported this side.

"I saw it. You don't believe me at all."

Rimer scratched his ear and snorted.

"That's the problem! How could a cripple like you catch a Bloodthirsty Ghoul! Show us the proof…."

Clang!

The sudden metallic sound drew everyone's attention to Raon.

In front of him lay two metal objects. The helmets of the Green-Blooded Ghoul and the Bloodthirsty Ghoul.

"The helmets of the Green-Blooded Ghoul and the Bloodthirsty Ghoul…."

"Is, is it true?"

"Hmm…."

The elders' eyes widened at the sight of the helmets.

"The problem isn't the helmets of the Eden bastards! What I want to know is how you caught them! An ambush? You're not an assassin, so how is that possible!"

He couldn't say he was an assassin.

"Head of the family."

Raon looked at Glen, who was standing in front, without glancing at Carun or the other elders.

"May I draw my sword?"

Glen nodded slightly.

"Thank you."

Raon bowed and drew the sword from his waist. A crimson flame erupted on the blade, which was already damaged.

Whoosh!

The flame, like a furnace, illuminated the entire audience hall.

"Ki, Ki. That's a sword aura, and it's even a flame…."

"I thought it was just a tiny flame?"

"A Sword Expert? At that age?"

"It, it's unbelievable…."

"At that level, he could match a Green-Blooded Ghoul."

The elders were shocked, their eyes wide at the sight of Raon's sword aura.

"I told you. The kid is a monster."

Rimer chuckled, looking at the stunned elders.

Glen Zighart's expression remained largely unchanged. But those who knew him well could see the slight twitch at the corner of his mouth.

Whoosh!

Raon lowered his flaming sword and tilted his chin.

"Is this explanation enough?"

There was no response to his question.